2026 Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft 4.0
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) celebrates after a sack against the Indiana Hoosiers in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
It’s official NFL Draft week, and we’re less than seven days away from welcoming in the newest members of the Philadelphia Eagles family.
The Eagles’ plans for the first round and beyond are still up in the air, as they have multiple positions that still need to be filled. From edge rusher to a starting safety and maybe a new wide receiver, the Eagles roster is far from complete before the start of 2026.
Since I last did a mock for the Eagles, things have changed as the Eagles now have one less draft pick and one new wide receiver in Dontayvion Wicks. So with eight picks now instead of nine, what type of changes are there in store for the Eagles’ 2026 draft class?
Round 1 Pick 23: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
One position that I feel like the Eagles have yet to really fill this offseason is edge rusher. After not resigning Jaelan Phillips this offseason after trading a third-round pick in this year’s draft for him, the only major move they’ve made to replace Phillips is signing Arnold Ebiketie to a one-year deal.
Ebiketie is a solid rotation piece, but I feel like it’s time to really bring in a big-ticket prospect, big potential edge rusher at pick 23, and sitting around that spot is former Miami Hurricane Akheem Mesidor.
Mesidor sits at 25 years old, one of the oldest draft prospects in this year’s class, but that doesn’t discredit his talent and potential. This past season, Mesidor was one of, if not the best, defensive players in the entire nation, creating a dynamic edge rushing duo with himself and fellow projected first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr.
Both players earned first-team All-ACC honors as Bain and Mesidor combined for 22 sacks (12.5 Mesidor, 9.5 Bain), helping Miami reach its first National Championship game since 2003.
The big difference between Bain and Meisdor and the reason why Bain will likely go around the top 10 of the draft while Meisodr is falling to the middle to late of the first round is the age. Bain is only 21, while Mesidor is 25. However, the stats, the 40-times, the strengths, and the ability are all there for Mesidor, making him an NFL-ready draftee for an Eagles team that could use the right-away production.
Round 2 Pick 54: Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon
Pick No. 54 could go several different ways for the Eagles, really depending on who’s available, but a position that they may need to fill sooner rather than later is the interior offensive line. Tyler Steen had a solid 2025, but the other guard for the Eagles, Landon Dickerson, contemplated retirement this offseason.
Thankfully for the Eagles, Dickerson decided not to hang up the cleats and will play for the Birds in 2026. So while drafting a guard doesn’t fill an immediate hole, getting someone like Emmanuel Pregnon in the second round is a solid get for this team for its depth and possible future.
Ranked in the top five for guards in the draft, Pregon was one of the best offensive linemen in the nation last year, being a finalist for the Joe Moore Award (nation’s top offensive lineman) while also earning first-team AP All-American and Big Ten honors.
Pregon has been reliable for all three schools he’s played for (Wyoming, USC, Oregon), missing just one game during his final four years of college. He’s someone who can come in, instantly learn an offense, and be a building block for years to come for an offensive line.
Round 3 Pick 68: Bud Clark, S, TCU
Now this, in my opinion, is a steal for the beginning of round three.
Bud Clark is someone whom I have been high on for the better part of a year, and he is someone who I feel can elevate and fill a huge need for the Eagles in their secondary.
Clark is a true ballhawk safety, totaling 15 career interceptions, two of them being pix-sixes. He’s a master of zone coverage, with the ability to cover the majority of the field when needed, while also being able to succeed one-on-one when needed.
While he was with TCU for six seasons, the first season was during COVID, and he only played special teams, while his second season was redshirted due to an injury. Following that injury, Clark returned and made the most of four years with the Horned Frogs, being named a team captain for three years and only missing one game.
Following a successful senior year where he was named second-team All-Big 12 for the second straight year, Clark first jumped up draft boards thanks to a strong performance at the Senior Bowl.
He followed that up by running a 4.41 40-yard dash, a 38″ vertical jump, and a 10’7′ broad jump at the scouting combine, once again testing out at a high level. While he may seem undersized at 6’0 7/8″, he has the potential to continue to learn and improve his game in a young and star-developing secondary.
Round 3 Pick 98: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
This one feels like a big hit or miss for the Eagles, but taking a player with the pedigree like Davison Igbinosun gives you upside that his skillset and talent will work out.
Igbinosun has solid strength and size for a corner, standing at 6’2′, and can run well too, recording a 4.45 40-time at the combine. He plays his best ball in press coverage, but can also tackle great and will play well against the run.
The big issues that he’s dealt with his entire career at Ohio State were his grabbing in coverage and his penalty numbers. Igbinosun recorded 30 penalties during his collegiate career, earning a reputation for being a bit of an instigator. Being a member of the Buckeyes with the talent they had helped him get by with those mistakes, but in the pros, that won’t fly as much.
As I mentioned, a pick like this feels like one where, in the middle rounds, trying to find a gem. Igbinosun has both good strengths that the Eagles value, but also comes with major baggage. He feels like a guy who will sink or swim quickly, and getting someone like him could work out well for a team looking for a long-term answer at corner two.
Round 4 Pick 114: Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
Michael Trigg is another sleeper pick that I’ve been high on for a while, who could blossom into a starting tight end talent.
Trigg’s first three years of college were far from disappointing, as he couldn’t find the right fit at USC or Mississippi. When he transferred to Baylor for his final two years of eligibility, he broke out under Dave Aranda and the Bears’ offense, totaling 1089 yards on 80 catches with nine of those being for touchdowns.
His blocking ability is almost a non-factor, but he’s seen as essentially a bigger wide receiver type of player, and that intrigues the Eagles. Dallas Goedert is back for another season, but it’s only a one-year deal, so why not find a true backup receiving option that can become a fourth wide receiver on the field for the Birds?
Philadelphia has been linked all offseason to Trigg, and if a guy like Kenyon Sadiq doesn’t fall to them at 23, waiting on a tight end until later day two, early day three seems like the strategy that will gain them the most value.
Round 4 Pick 137: Austin Barber, OT, Florida
The fourth round seems a little late for a position that many feel could be a first-round pick priority, but if they go offensive tackle in round one, I don’t see the difference between a fourth-round and a second-round tackle.
So after filling their picks with many positions they truly need, getting a guy like Austin Barber at pick 137 is a decent grab. Butler is a humongous tackle talent, standing at nearly 6’7′ with versatility to play at both tackle positions. During his four full seasons playing, Butler missed just three games due to injury, earning Third-team All-SEC his senior year.
Barber’s hands are probably his best skill, with his feet being next, but he has struggled with his technique, bending, and driving defenders. He would need time to develop, but with two starting tackles in his way, he’d have plenty of time to learn from some of the NFL’s best in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.
Round 5 Pick 178: Zane Durant, DL, Penn State
Zane Durant is a very interesting prospect, as standing at 6’1′ and 290 lbs seems like a big red flag. However, Durant has produced solid numbers during his time at Penn State: 10 sacks, 22 TFLs, and 89 career tackles to be exact.
A three-year captain, the Eagles have had multiple meanings with Durant over the past number of months, once at the Senior Bowl, and again at the combine, where at the combine Durant posted solid numbers, including a 4.75 40-yard dash, 33.5′ vertical jump, and a 9’4′ broad jump.
Defensive tackle isn’t an immediate need for the Eagles, but building that depth room up is always an option, especially for a team with likely still more draft picks than they really need.
Round 6 Pick 197: Michael Taaffe, S, Texas
This feels like one of the positions where the Eagles would likely double up on in this draft, as their current room consists of just Makuba, Marcus Epps, Andre’ Sam, and Michael Carter II. While Bud Clark would likely be in line to start, someone like Michael Taaffe could definitely become a starter, but is more likely to give the Eagles value in special teams and in-depth roles.
Taaffe, a fifth-year senior who started 36 of 53 games, worked his way up the depth chart in Austin, going from a former walk-on to a likely soon-to-be-drafted NFL player. After reshirting his freshman year, Taaffe eventually saw playing time in year two before becoming basically a full-time starter year three, where he recorded a team-high three interceptions along with 48 tackles and 2.5 TFLs.
Those numbers helped him earn an All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention, and over the next two seasons posted similar numbers, earning third-team AP All-American and First-team All-SEC during his final year with the Longhorns.
Despite these successes in college, Taaffe sits at 5’11 7/8″, weighing 190 lbs, and doesn’t have the game-breaking speed that other defensive back prospects possess. However, the IQ is there for Taaffe, and playing special teams is a role he will likely thrive in.
Matt Brown
Matt has been a Philadelphia sports fan all his life and spent four years at Penn State University majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Studies. He previously covered Penn State’s field hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball teams while writing for a Penn State blog called Onward State. He has now covered the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers for Philly Sports Reports since October 2024 and wants to pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
Get New Articles Emailed Right To Your Inbox:
